The statue of the mayor who began its construction has a good view of its redevelopment.
The Charles Center urban development project was conceived in 1954, during the time Thomas D'Alesandro, Jr. was mayor (1947-1959) and completed in the 1960s. Incorporating three public plazas and modern walkways, and many new buildings built around several older ones, the 33-acre project was honored for its bold answer to a business district that had decayed.
This bronze statue and a seated sculpture of D'Alesandro were added in 1987. This reconstruction of Charles Plaza is the first major refurbishment undertaken since it was first built.